Multiplayer - which nations are being chosen?

[Wrana]

I think that just what nations HAVE been chosen isn't a full indicator of popularity. While I can't think offhand of how to rate which nations were chosen first, while others were taken only as 2nd/3rd pick, it would be probably good to include.
Also, I can attest that TucoTuco, e.g., was initially started with no water nations. It's possible that a possibility of such starts itself speaks for something - maybe about weakness of Oceania, as was said. But it surely subtracts from their popularity index...

[Omnirizon]

it'd be interesting to see a whole host of water nations designed, and then maps with the land/water ratio reversed; add some additional underwater land types.

that would actually be more realistic. right. earth is 75% water. Shouldn't dom3 earth be too? coincidentally then, dom3 earth should have lots more underwater denizens; given that they have underwater civilization and culture.

looks like the nature of our existence flavors our fantasy, even when conditions in our fantasy logically dictate other than what our own fantasy is.

[Wrana]

Actually, Earth being about 75% water-covered doesn't mean anything for fantasy universe. That's the same as most fantasy authors place their adventures in the North hemisphere of their worlds. Just an economy of thought (sp?). Actually, fantasy world can have almost no seas and even be a Mars-like desert one.
What I agree with is that more aquatic nations would be fun - but I guess that there are just not much good ideas of such in the developers' minds at the moment. And I don't remember much mod nations which are aquatic, too... It's possible that some Polynesian folklore would be helpful, but I don't know this enough...

[Kristoffer O]

I do have one aquatic nation in mind, but it's not very high on the agenda atm

[triqui]

it's a good post.

But i think instead of adding QM total score to the nations, you should add only the first 3 scores (leaving "easy to learn" an "easy to play" behind) if you want to show a hint of "how powerful they are". A nation that score 5-5-5-1-1 is way more powerful than a nation that score 1-1-5-5-5, and both get 17 points.

Yomi is the best example of how "coolness" is not such a popularity factor when playing MP. I cant think of a nation "cooler" than Oni Kings. But they are perceived as a rather weak nation (being weak or not, they are perceived as such), and therefore they are left for last pick. Nobody want's to start a MP just to be trampled to death in turn 9 before you can even start to self buff Dai Onis.

[Wrana]

Well, I must disagree to that. I personally don't like Oni Kings at all, as well as Jomon. The first one could be interesting to try, but I don't like Japanese folklore much.
For "coolness" factor I would rate Helheim most high, or probably EA Pangaea. EA and LA Ulm being close behind. Though this is for separate thread...

[Tifone]

EA Mictlan, Agartha and Abysia (and maybe TC) - and LA Ermor and R'lyeh, on the way to ascension by coolness to me

[Meglobob]

Caelum, Mictlan, Ermor and Agartha are my very cool nations. Across all ages.

Agartha is considered on the weak side in MP but the excellent storyline/theme and good summons make Agartha cool.

[Herode]

Maybe a way to increase the appeal on aquatic nations could be to add some spells/items allowing a certain amount of aquatic troops to become amphibians ?

[Meglobob]

Yes, a bigger version of amulet of the fish which allows sea only units access to the land.

Also, perhaps a new ability on leaders that allow them to bring a set amount of sea units on dry land.

Even if they get poor amphibian, it would be alot better.

Sometimes as a sea nation you are praying for a bad random event where 1 of your provinces gets attacked. So you can feed your unneeded and expensive upkeep sea only troops in to it slowly. Just to get rid of them.